Leaving The Past Behind To Follow Jesus

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before."

Philippians 3:13

Often we get caught up in the past and forget to look to the present and future. When negative circumstances occur, it can be difficult to get past them. Jesus asks us to pick up and move on with him in faith. When we get stressed out by events that already happened, we are ignoring all the blessings He has for us now.

In his infinite wisdom, you will experience many conditions as a human being. Some are wonderful and others are more painful. Health problems, loss of a loved one, abuse, rejection and stress are all memories that are hard to erase for many people. Other folks get caught up in their past sins, forgetting Christ came to save the sinners.

When we cling to the past, we are giving our full attention to the possibilities of what is right before us. Failing to reach forth means we remain in a stagnant, unhappy position. Embarking on a journey with Jesus opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Some will be pleasant and some might be unpleasant. All of them will take you to where you belong because He knows best what we need.

If the answers aren't coming to you, it is essential to take quiet time to pray. Jesus answers all prayers when you turn to him with all your heart. You may not get the answers you were looking for, but He always has a wiser master plan for you.

I experienced a very painful divorce. I will not detail the circumstances here but I chose not to wallow in the negativity. I prayed constantly and shortly thereafter, reconnected with the man who is now my husband. He was a friend of a a friend and definitely not on my mind as a romantic interest.

Our friendship grew richer and stronger over the years until our romance simply exploded. He, too, is divorced and felt despondent that his dream of being a family man like his dad would ever come true. I felt my "biological clock" ticking and wondered if I would ever be a mother.

We prayed constantly and took a leap of faith together. We left behind divorce, bad memories and distress. It comes back constantly to peck at us but we don't even flinch. We both have Jesus and know the present and future are what matters. We refuse to let the past hold us back from living life today and tomorrow with our two blessed children. Jesus sacrificed His life for us so we can be forgiven and sow positive seeds here on earth. That's too important to overlook and keeps us from dwelling on bad memories.

Does the past hold you back from being who you want to be? Are negative thoughts overwhelming you so you cannot see the light of today and tomorrow? You are not alone because Jesus is waiting to offer relief. Have faith and give it up to Him so you can move into the present and future without the weight from your past. Please feel free to comment here and share your posts about it at Gathering 4 Jesus.

Have a beautiful, blessed day!